Filing device



Oc 8, 1968 R. P. SCHOLFIELD FILING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1966 I N VEN TOR.

RagaPScwu Hg; JIM/ M, id-11% I A TTOR/YEYS United States Patent O 3,404,784 FILING DEVICE Richard P. Scholfield, Armonk, N.Y., assignor to Wheeldex,'lnc., Peekskill, -N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 5, 1966, Ser. No. 562,824

4 Claims. (Cl. 211-164) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to filing devices and more particularly to filing devices of the type in which a plurality of filing trays are mounted for stabilized translational movement about an endless path in generally horizontally extending parallel relation.

Filing devices of the type herein contemplated are wellknown in the art and have been commercially available for a number of years Examples of such devices are shown in Patents Nos. 2,813,770 and 2,853,353. As shown in the aforesaid patents, filing devices of this type have invariably embodied a frame structure having horizontally spaced ends between which the filing trays extend. A portion of the frame between the ends is open to provide physical and visual access to the sides of the trays, the open .portion being provided at a position convenient for such physical and visual access. Heretofore, each end of the frame has been provided with means for stably supporting the adjacent ends of the trays for movement about the endless path. Because of the nature of the physical and visual access to the trays provided by the prior art structures, the cards or other material were disposed within the trays in a position to be viewed from the side of the tray (i.e., the flat surfaces of the cards being disposed parallel with the longitudinal extent of the trays).

While this limitation has not proven to be a serious deterrent in large capacity filing devices embodying relatively large filing trays, it becomes a serious limiting factor when dealing with filing devices of intermediate or small size having relatively smaller trays. For example, it is much more convenient and efiicient where the size of the filing card is generally equal to the width of the filing tray, to maintain the cards in a row formation extending the length of the tray (that is, with the surface of the cards perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the tray). At

the same time, however, it is desirable that such filing devices be capable of receiving and supporting filing cards which are greater in width than the width of the filing tray, necessitating that such cards be disposed in one or more rows extending between the sides of the tray (that is, with the flat surface disposed parallel to the longitudinal extent of the tray).

' In short, it is highly desirable that filing devices of intermediate sizeor smaller provide for the selective support of filing cards in a position to be viewed either from one end of 'the tray or from one side of the tray. As stated above, the filing devices of the prior art of the type providing for the stabilized translational movement of the trays about an endless path have provided for convenient physical and visual access to the trays-only from the side.

'ice

An object of the present invention is the provision of a device of this type which provides for both physical and visual access to the trays both from a viewing side and a viewing end of the trays.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a filing device of the type described having means for supporting a plurality of trays at the ends thereof in a cantilever fashion for stabilized translational movement about an endless path so as to provide substantial physical and visual access both to the viewing sides and the viewing ends of the trays.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a filing device of the type described which is simple in construction, easy to operate, and economical to manufacture and maintain.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description and appended claims The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment is shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a filing device embodying the principles of the present invention, illustrating the physical and visual access to the filing trays at the viewing end of such trays;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the filing device shown in FIGURE 1 illustrating the physical and visual access to the viewing side of the trays;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIGURE 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a filing device, generally indicated at 10 embodying the principles of the present invention which includes a plurality of elongated rectangular filing trays or cradles 12, a frame or support assembly, generally indicated at 14, and a mechanism 16 for'supporting the trays 12 on the frame 14 in cantilever fashion for stabilized translational movement about an endless path in generally horizontally extending parallel relation so as to provide substantial physical and visual access both to the viewing sides and viewing ends of the trays.

The trays 12 are of similar conventional construction, each providing a rectangular bottom 18 having opposed parallel sides 20 extending upwardly from the elongated edges thereof and a pair of ends 22 and 24 extending upwardly from the end edges of the bottom between the adjacent edges of the sides 20.

The support assembly 14, as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, preferably comprises a central frame member 26 of disk-like configuration having a pair of notches 28 formed in the periphery thereof, and a pair of bores 30 formed therein in communication with the downwardly facing surfaces of the notches and with their axes converging upwardly. Each of the bores 30 receives one end of an L-shaped supporting leg 32. The L-shaped legs 32 are fixedly secured to the disk member 26, as by set screws 34, so that they provide parallel horizontally extending portions for engaging a supporting surface on which the filing device rests and upwardly converging vertical portions which are fixedly secured together by the disk member 26.

The tray supporting mechanism 16 includes a stub shaft 36 having one end thereof fixedly secured to the central frame member 26, as by a press fit within an opening 38 extending through the member in vertically spaced relation to the axis thereof. A vertical bar member 40 is fixedly secured to the opposite end of the stub the upper end portion of the'ba'r'. Afi opefi'ing 44 is formed in the lower end portion of the bar 40 with its axis in horizontal alignment with the axis of the opening 42 and fixedly receives, as by a press fit, one endof a second stub shaft 46.

Jour naled on the second stub shaft 46, adjacent the bar 40 is an inner tray supporting disk'member 48. As shown, the disk is centrally apertured to receive a flanged bearing which is retained in spaced relation to the bar 40, as by a spacer washer 52 of fiber or the like. The disk member 48 is secured to the flange of the bearing 50 for rotation therewith about the fixed shaft 46, as by bolts 54 or the like.

Journaled on the shaft 46 in spaced relation to the inner disk member 48, as by a flanged bearing 56, similar to the flanged bearing 50, is an outer tray supporting disk member 58. The outer disk member 58 forms a part of a rotary housing adapted to be grasped and turned by the operator to effect the translational move- H ment of the trays in their endless orbital path. To this end, the marginal peripheral edge of the disk member 58 is turned inwardly to provide a peripheral flange 60. Detachably secured within the flange 60 is one end of an outer cylindrical housing section 62. Any suitable means may be provided for effecting securement of the outer disk member 58 with the cylindrical housing section 62, and as shown, such means includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced angle brackets 64 fixed to the interior surface of the cylindrical housing section 62, as by Welding or the like, and detachably fixedly secured to the disk member 58, as by fastening elements 66.

The opposite end of the cylindrical housing section 62 is fixedly secured, as by welding or the like, to a peripheral flange of a disk-shaped housing section 68. The section 68 is centrally apertured, as indicated at 70, to receive the first stub shaft36 therethrough and is disposed adjacent the frame member 26. It can be seen that the'rigid'housing provided by the disk member 58 and housing sections 62 and 68 is mounted for rotational movement about the axis of the second stub shaft 46.

As best shown in FIGURE 5, the inner and outer tray supporting disk members 48 and 58 are provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced pairs of aligned openings 72 and 74, respectively. The construction illustrated is adapted to be utilized with either four or three trays 12. Where four trays are utilized, as shown in FIG- URE 4, four equal angularly spaced pairs of aligned openings are employed and the two remaining openings which are disposed in equal angularly spaced relation to one of the four openings are not utilized. Fixedly secured to the inner and outer disk members 58 and 48 and extending within the openings of each of the four aligned pairs is a pair of flanged bearing members 78 and 80, respectively. The bearing members 78 and 80 are generally similar to the bearing member 50 previously described except that the flange portion is centrally disposed rather than being disposed at one end, as with the bearing member 50.

As best shown in FIGURE 5, each pair of bearing members 78 and 80 rotatably receives a tray supporting hollow shaft 82. Each shaft 82 has its outer end fixedly secured to the end wall 24 of the associated tray 12 and its inner end connected with a stabilizing mechanism, generally indicated at 84. As shown, the outer end of each shaft 82 is milled to provide a generally rectangular key portion 86 on the exterior thereof adapted to engage within a rectangular slot 88 formed in one end of a centrally apertured thrust bearing disk 90. Each thrust bearing disk 90 -is mounted'adjacent to a tray mounting plate 92 which is similarly apertured to receive the shaft key portion 86 and, in turn, is detachably fixedly secured to the end wall 24 of the associated tray.

The end wall 24 of each tray 12 is centrally apertured to receive the headed end of a bolt 94 which extends through the associated hollow shaft 82. The inner end of each shaft is milled to forrri'a" key portion 96, similar to the key portion 86 previously described, which engages within an aperture 98 of conforming configuration formed in one end of a stabilizing link 1 00. Each stabilizing link 100 is fixedly secured to the inner. end of the associated shaft 82, .as by a cylindrical spacer 102 disposed in surrounding relation to the shaft 82 between. the link 100 and the bearing member 80,- and a nutand washer 'assembly 104 engaged onthe outer end of the bolt'94. I

Each of the links 100 extends upwardly from the associated shaft 82 and has its'upper end portion apertured, as indicated at 106, to receive therein a hollow flanged pivot pin 108. A fiber washer is preferably mounted between the flanged end of each pivot pin and the adjacent link and the opposite end of each pivot pin is formed with a reduced end 112 which rotatably engages within an opening 114 formed in a dish-shaped rotary stabilizing member 116. As shown in FIGURE 3, the rotary stabilizing member 116 is centrally apertured and fixedly receives a bearing member 118, similar to the bearing member 56 previously described, which is journalled on the first stub shaft 36 adjacent the bar member 40. Each pivot pin 108 is retained in operative position by a bolt 120 extending through the pivot pin and secured therein, as by a nut and washer assembly 122.

It can thus be seen that the mechanism 16 serves to support each of the trays 12 in cantilever fashion for movement in an endless orbital path, all of the trays being maintained in generally horizontally extending parallel relation within the path. The operation of the stabilizing mechanism 84 is such as to insure that the movement of the trays in the orbital path is stable and translational. The basic manner in which the stabilizing mechanism 84 performs this function is the same as that of the stabilizing mechanism disclosed in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,853,- 353, so that a detailed description of this operation is'not necessary, reference to the stabilizing mechanism of said patent may be referred to, if desired, for such details;

The significant feature of the present invention is that the trays 12 are mounted in cantilever fashion for sta bilized translational movement in an orbital path, so that the ends thereof (adjacent the end walls 22) are provided with physical and visual access in addition to the physical and visual access provided at the sides thereof. The end access renders the prevent device convenient for use with file cards 124 which are mounted within the trays in a row formation extendingfrom one end wall to the opposite end wall. When the cards are mounted in the trays in this fashion, the operator would view the cards from the open end of the device over the tray end walls 22, as shown in FIGURE 1, the flat surfaces of the cards being disposed perpendicular to the direction of sight and to the longitudinal extent of the trays.

As shown, the cards 124 are of a width substantially the same as thewidth of the trays. Since the present device provides for side viewing as well as end viewing, cards of a larger width, such as indicated at 126, may be mounted in one or more of the trays in one or more sideby-side rows. When cards of this type'are used, the operator would view the associated-trays-from the side, as shown in FIGURE 2, so that again the flat surfaces of the cards would be perpendicular to the line of sight and this time parallel to the longitudinal extent of the tray.

The device 10 as thus far describedis arranged for manual movement of .the trays by the operator grasping the housing structure. and turning the same whichwill have the effect of moving the trays translationally in their orbital path of travel. As an. added convenience, a torque tube and hand wheel assembly 128may be fixedly, secured to the outerdisk member 58 in surrounding relation to the stub shaft 46 so as to provide a more convenient means for rotating the housing when the device is to be used in its end viewing position as shown in FIGURE 1.

Also, in the structure thus far described, it is contemplated that the device would be used at all times with the trays full of cards so that there would be presented a balanced situation as far as weight is concerned. Where use is contemplated with a number of cards less than a full complement in each tray, means may be provided for resisting turning movement as a result of imbalance in the loading of the trays. Such means may take the form of additional frictional resistance to the turning movement or an indexing arrangement wherein the unit is made as free turning as possible and an external adjustable friction means is provided, such as a pair of rubber tired wheels attached to the frame and impinging upon the rotating housing with detent positions provided on the latter to hold the device in steady and selective positions.

It will also be understood that the device may be power rotated, if desired, as, for example, by the provision of an electrical motor or the like supported on the frame and having a geared down output shaft provided with a rubber wheel which engages the periphery of the rotating housing or a gear engaging a toothed track thereon.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

It is claimed:

1. A filing device comprising a plurality of generally rectangular filing trays of the type adapted to receive and support a multiplicity of filing cards or the like selectively in a position to be viewed either from a side of the tray or from an end of the tray, and means supporting said trays at the ends thereof opposite from the viewing ends in cantilever fashion for stabilized translational movement about an endless path in generally horizontally extending parallel relation so as to provide substantial physical and visual access both to the viewing sides and viewing ends of said trays,

said tray supporting means comprising a frame, a rotary structure, means mounting said rotary structure on said frame for rotational movement about a generally horizontally extending axis, a plurality of shaft assemblies carried by said rotary structure in circumferentially spaced relation for rotational movement about axes parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotary structures, means for fixedly securing one end of each of said shaft assemblies to said opposite end of one of said filing trays so as to support the latter in said cantilever fashion for movement in said endless path, and stabilizing means operatively connected to the opposite end of each of said shaft assemblies for parallel relation in response to the rotational move-' ment of said rotary structure, said stabilizing means comprising a stub shaft fixedly supported by said frame with its axis disposed in parallel relation to the axis of rotation of said rotary structure, -a stabilizing rotary member journaled on said stub shaft, a stabilizing link fixedly secured to the opposite end of each of said shaft assemblies and extending laterally therefrom and pivot means connecting the laterally extending end of each of said stabilizing links with said stabilizing rotary member for rotational movement about an axis disposed in parallel relation with the axis of the associated shaft assembly equal to the parallel relation between the axis of said stub shaft and the axis of rotation of said rotary structure. 2. A filing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotary structure mounting means comprises a second stub fixedly secured to said first stu-b shaft and wherein said =rotary structure comprises a tray supporting disk member rotatably mounted on said second stub shaft.

3. A filing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said rotary structure further includes a second tray rotatably supporting said shaft assemblies and rotatably mounted on said second stub shaft supporting disk member, in a position adjacent said first tray supporting disk member and between the latter and said stabilizing rotary member, a cylindrical housing section fixedly secured at one end to the periphery of said first tray supporting disk member and extending in surrounding relation to said second tray supporting disk member, said stabilizing links and said stabilizing rotary member, and an end housing section secured at its periphery to the opposite end of said cylindrical housing section.

4. A filing device as defined in claim 3 wherein said frame comprises a central frame member fixedly secured to one end of said first stub shaft and a pair of supporting legs having first portions fixedly secured to said central frame member and extending downwardly therefrom in diverging relation and second portions extending horizontally from the lower ends of said first portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 253,290 2/1882 Hunter 211-164 XR 2,087,187 7/1937 Dasi 2111.5 2,813,770 11/1957 Scholfield et a1, 312-268 2,853,353 9/1958 Scholfield et al 312-267 3,055,510 9/1962 Coates 211-l64 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner. W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

